Theresa May vowed no family will be split up as she set out her offer on EU citizens’ rights

When will freedom of movement end?

Theresa May’s government has spelled out its intention to quit the single market and customs union and to take back control of our borders after Brexit.

Although detailed plans have not been agreed, Cabinet ministers have signalled a transition period will be necessary after the UK formally leaves the EU on March 29, 2019.

It is thought this would mean existing arrangements on trade and other matters would continue as before for up to three years until a new deal can be hammered out.

Ministers said they wanted to avoid a “cliff edge” for businesses that could hurt the economy.

Critics feared this would also mean migration from the EU would continue unchecked for up to five years after Article 50 was triggered.

But following a Cabinet row on a possible transition deal, Downing Street said it was “wrong” to suggest free movement will “continue as it is now”.

Mrs May’s official spokesman said: “The Prime Minister’s position on an implementation period is very clear and well known.

“Free movement will end in March 2019.”

What will happen after we leave the EU?

There are around 3.2million EU citizens living in the UK.

In June the PM published proposals that would give them guaranteed residency, and said they can also bring their family until days before Brexit even if they are from outside the EU.

Theresa May vowed “no family will be split up” as she outlined a 15-page document detailing the Government’s “fair and serious” offer to Brussels on citizens’ rights.

Those who have been here for five years will get “settled status”, with equal rights on jobs, healthcare, education, benefits and pensions.

If they have been here less time they can stay until they have five years’ residency and then apply for settled status.

The Home Secretary has said there will be a registration system for migrants arriving after March 2019.

EU citizens will still be able to travel to and live in Britain after Brexit under new immigration plans, it has been reported.

The principles of freedom of movement will stay in place for those who want to visit or stay in the UK but a system of permits will limit the number of working migrants under the Home Office proposals.

Irish citizens will not have their rights affected by Brexit and will always be able to live and work in Britain freely, the government said.

Brussels chiefs rejected the offer, saying it gives EU citizens a worse deal the at present. If they do not have the correct paperwork they could be committing a crime by staying in the UK even if they have been here for decades.

A key sticking point will be whether their rights will be protected by the European Court of Justice, which the PM is dead against.

In October Mrs May said all 3.2million EU citizens living in Britain would be able to stay after Brexit whether there was a deal or not.

Her most generous offer yet ahead of a crunch summit was seen as a bid to ease a deadlock in negotiations.

Will migration come down after Britain leaves the EU?

Theresa may has repeated her pledge to bring down net immigration to the “tens of thousands”.

But the PM’s spokesman admitted “it will take time” for the numbers to fall.

And some experts have predicted a surge in migration immediately before Brexit as EU citizens rush to get in before the cut-off and qualify for benefits.

Leaving the EU will allow the government to set its own policies on who can come to this country.

It is thought the Home Office will continue to welcome thousands of EU workers every year as large sections of the economy rely on a migrant workforce from the Continent.

Chancellor Philip Hammond and other ministers have stressed they are keen to avoid a “cliff edge” for businesses that would be unable to fill vacancies without workers from Europe.

And public services like healthcare are also heavily reliant on EU nationals.

What are the latest migration figures?

Net migration to the UK recorded the steepest fall on record in the year after the Brexit vote, official figures revealed today.

The measure – the difference between the numbers arriving and leaving the country for at least a year – was estimated at 230,000 in the 12 months to the end of June 2017.

This was a drop of 106,000, or around a third, compared with the 336,000 registered in July 2015 to June 2016.

It is largest decrease in net long-term migration in any 12-month period since records began in 1964.

But the figure remains well above the government’s target of less than 100,000.